Antimicrobial agent

ABSTRACT

An antimicrobial agent comprising a mineral acid salt of a benzophenanthridine alkaloid in a mixture with a metal salt of an acid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 226,088 filed Jan. 19, 1981, and now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 151,706, filed May 20, 1980, and now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 24,604, filed Mar. 28, 1979, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to the composition and preparation of an antimicrobial agent which may be used in dental preparations, surgical and other soaps, various other topical preparations, injectable medicines, and other drug applications. In particular, the invention relates to compositions containing mineral acid salts of benzophenanthridine alkaloids mixed with a metal salt, preferably a metal salt of a mineral acid, although salts of mono- or dicarboxylic acids, among others, may also be used.

One of the important sources of sanguinarine is a perennial herb native to North America called Sanguinaria canadensis Linne (Family: Papaveraceae) commonly known as blood root, red root, puccoon, etc. The plant contains benzophenanthridine alkaloids including sanguinarine, chelerythrine, and several others. The major alkaloids present are sanguinarine and chelerythrine. The eighth edition of the Merck Index lists the alkaloids as sanguinarine, chelerythrine, protopine and homochelidonine. The pure chemicals sanguinarine, chelerythrine, and other benzophenanthridine alkaloids can be isolated from other plants besides Sanguinaria. Also, they are available, even though very rarely, from some chemical supply houses. Semi-purified forms of the alkaloids are commercially available, and these are generally referred to as sanguinarine nitrate and sanguinarine sulfate. These "salts" are the salts of the mixed alkaloids of the plant Sanguinaria: mainly sanguinarine, chelerythrine, and protopine. While few references can be found in the literature regarding the usage of any of the pure benzophenanthridine alkaloids, plants containing such compounds have been used for medical purposes for quite some time for a wide variety of ailments.

The principle use of sanguinarine up to recently was a stimulant expectorant to cough syrups containing "sanguinarine nitrate".

The use of sanguinarine with thiophosphoric acid in various animal and human neoplasms is shown in French patents, No. 70-22029 and 2,152,972.

The alkaloid sanguinarine in solution has been shown to have some antifungal and antiprotozoan properties. The sanguinarine is applied as an emulsion topically to fungal infections. The antibacterial activity of sanguinarine has been found to vary with the attached radicals, and various salts of sanguinarine have been shown to have some activity. The hydrochloride and the sulfate salts have been found to have some activity against certain bacteria at various concentrations. Sanguinarine nitrate is reported to have some weak bacteriostatic action on various types of bacteria.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the preparation and the use of antimicrobial agents, formed particularly from mineral acid salts of benzophenanthridine alkaloids and a metal salt and useful in dental preparations, mouthwashes, rinses, surgical soaps, shampoos, creams, lotions, powders, injectables, etc., and other forms of drug preparation and disinfectants. The mineral acid salts of the benzophenanthridine alkaloids may be used in various concentrations with a metal salt as an antimicrobial agent for use in treating both human and animal infections and diseases.

Metal salts particularly useful in the formulations of the present invention include metal salts of halogen acids. Among these salts are zinc chloride, stannous fluoride, and sodium fluoride, although any metal salt can be used. This includes alkali, alkaline earth, and heavy metal fluorides, chlorides, bromides, and iodides.

Although non-toxic metal salts of halogen acids are preferred for use in the formulations according to the present invention, it has been found that non-toxic salts of other acids, such as mineral acids and mono-and dicarboxylic acids, are also effective. Examples of acids, the non-toxic metal salts of which can be used, include sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and acetic acid.

Glycerol is the preferred vehicle of the formulations according to the present invention, although other vehicles that can be used include organic solvents such as propylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), lower alcohols, and the like.

It is therefore, among the object and advantages of the present invention to provide an antimicrobial agent of mineral acid salts of a benzophenanthridine alkaloid and a metal salt, useful for topical administration, injectables and other forms of drug preparations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a benzophenanthridine alkaloid salt-metal salt preparation for treatment of periodontal disease, prevention of dental caries and similar oral cavity impairments.

Still another object of the invention is to provide drug preparation of a benzophenanthridine alkaloid and a metal salt, useful for treatment of ringworm infections, acne, cold sores and various parasitic infections.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a drug preparation of a benzophenanthridine alkaloid and a metal salt, useful for treatment of scours in animals.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be readily ascertained by the following description and examples of the preparation of the invention.

The drug preparation of the present invention can be incorporated in dental preparations, toothpastes, mouth rinses, surgical and other soaps, vehicles for topical applications, vehicles for parenteral or intramuscular injection, and the like.

PREPARATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT

The pure chemical, either sanguinarine, chelerythrine, or other benzophenanthridine alkaloids, is dissolved in a chloroform/methanol mixture and acidified with a mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid. The acidic mixture is evaporated to dryness and the residue is recrystallized from ethyl alcohol/chloroform, 50/50.

For use, the mineral acid salt of the benzophenanthridine alkaloid is dissolved in either deionized water or C₁ -C₆ alcohols, glycerine, propylene glycol, petrolatum, or other organic solvents at 70 degrees C., and a metal salt or a salt-forming acid is added to the above solutions. The preparations generally contain 0.1% by weight and up to 20% by weight of the benzophenanthridine alkaloid salt, and at least 1% and up to 60% by weight of a metal salt, with the remainder being the solvent. The material can be diluted to the desired concentration, depending on the type of use, with the solvents listed above.

The benzophenanthridine alkaloid salt is used in preparations containing 0.01%-10% benzophenanthridine by weight. The metal salt is present in amounts ranging from about 2% to about 60%. The lower concentrations are generally effective in the treatment of most diseases as explained below.

An example of a basic preparation:

    ______________________________________                                         sanguinarine chloride                                                                            0.3%                                                         glycerine U.S.P.  64.7%                                                        zinc chloride AR  35.0%                                                        ______________________________________                                    

The basic preparation can be varied by using, in place of sanguinarine chloride, 0.3% of another mineral acid salt of a benzophenanthridine alkaloid, such as chelerythrine chloride.

A second example of a preparation is:

    ______________________________________                                         sanguinarine chloride                                                                            1.0%                                                         glycerine U.S.P.  96.0                                                         zinc chloride AR. 3.0%                                                         ______________________________________                                    

A third example of such a preparation is:

    ______________________________________                                         sanguinarine chloride                                                                            1.0%                                                         glycerine U.S.P.  64.0%                                                        zinc chloride AR. 35.0%                                                        ______________________________________                                    

A fourth example of such a preparation for dental use is:

    ______________________________________                                         sanguinarine chloride                                                                            1.0%                                                         glycerine U.S.P.  95.6%                                                        zinc chloride AR. 3.0%                                                         stannous fluoride 0.4%                                                         ______________________________________                                    

Additional formulations for a basic preparation are as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         sanguinarine chloride                                                                            1.0%                                                         stannous fluoride 0.4%                                                         glycerine, U.S.P. 98.6%                                                        ______________________________________                                    

and

    ______________________________________                                         sanguinarine chloride                                                                            1.0%                                                         sodium fluoride   3.0%                                                         glycerine, U.S.P. 96.0%                                                        ______________________________________                                    

Numerous types of diseases were treated in humans and in animals with the composition of the present invention as follows:

EXAMPLE 1 Canine Ringworm

A 5-10% solution of the first basic preparation was used, applied directly to the infected area, one to three applications as indicated, 48 hours apart.

EXAMPLE 2 Feline Ringworm

A 4-8% solution of the first basic preparations was applied directly to the infected area, 48 hours apart up to three applications.

EXAMPLE 3 Bovine Ringworm

The etiological agent of this involvement is usually the mold known as Trychophyton album. The duration of the disease is 4-12 months.

A 30% dilution of the first basic preparation is used, applied directly to the involved areas, 48 hours apart. Three applications proved to be adequate in treating the condition successfully.

EXAMPLE 4 Bovine Neo-natal Diarrhea

Twelve animals having diagnosed and confirmed neo-natal diarrhea were treated with 0.75 grams of the first basic preparation orally, once per animal, and showed clinical cure with one exception.

This constitutes an excellent result, considering that conventional antibiotic therapy currently in use has a much lower percentage of success.

Sanguinarine chloride and chelerythrine chloride have strong antimicrobial properties. Zinc chloride has antimicrobial properties only in high concentrations. It can be seen from Table I that sanguinarine chloride mixed with zinc chloride in a 1:1 ratio, as a rule, did not show a synergistic effect or even an additive action against most microorganisms tested in vitro. Further, it was found that in most cases the antimicrobial action of the sanguinarine chloride and zinc chloride mixture depended mostly on the amount of sanguinarine chloride present in the mixture, and was relatively independent from the amount of zinc chloride.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                                     Mean inactivating dose in micrograms                                           per milliliter (μg/ml) of media.                                                                 ZnCl.sub.2 & San-                                                   Sanguinarine                                                                              guinarine                                     Microorganism ZnCl.sub.2                                                                             Chloride   Chloride (1:1)                                ______________________________________                                         Bacillus subtilis                                                                            25,000   22        1,000                                         Escherichia coli                                                                             6,250   270        500                                           Klebsiella pneumoniae                                                                        3,125   540        1,000                                         Proteus vulgaris                                                                             12,500  590        1,000                                         Staphylococcus aureus                                                                        6,250    70        500                                           Streptococcus faecalis                                                                       25,000  393        500                                           Streptococcus mutans                                                                         1,563   161         63                                           Candida albicans                                                                             --      150        --                                            Saccharomyces cerevisiae                                                                     6,250    20         63                                           Pseudomonas aeruginosa                                                                       3,500   7,000      400                                           ______________________________________                                    

A separate test was conducted to determine the inhibitory concentration of sanguinarine chloride alone. These concentrations, for microorganisms in vitro, are as follows:

100 micrograms per milliliter for Escherichia coli

100 micrograms per milliliter for Candida albicans

50 micrograms per milliliter for Streptococcus mutans

10 micrograms per milliliter for Staphylococcus aureus

It was further found that a concentration of sanguinarine chloride of 25 micrograms per milliliter caused a 100% reduction of dental plaque by inactivating plaque forming microorganisms freshly collected from human dental plaque. Sanguinarine chloride compared favorably in vitro to chlorhexidine (Hibitane®), a material used as a standard in evaluating inhibition of human dental plaque forming microorganisms.

However, under in vivo test conditions, sanguinarine chloride was found to be ineffective against plaque forming microorganisms.

When sanguinarine chloride was applied to the affected area of both dogs and humans, repeated treatment with sanguinarine chloride alone did not reduce dental plaque or alleviate the symptoms of gingivitis or periodontal disease. Continuous treatment with sanguinarine chloride did not prevent the accumulation of dental plaque on teeth or prevent the occurrence of periodontal disease. However, it has been found that a combination of sanguinarine chloride and zinc chloride in glycerine is effective in vivo in reducing dental plaque and the incidence of periodontal disease, and has shown definite promise in the treatment and prevention of human periodontal disease.

Results of tests on guinea pigs with induced ringworm infection, dogs with periodontal disease, and humans with periodontal disease have shown that glycerine preparations of sanguinarine chloride plus zinc chloride are far superior for the management of infections in vivo than either zinc chloride or sanguinarine chloride alone.

When zinc chloride was replaced with a fluoride salt in the present preparations, the activity of the preparation against microorganisms believed to be associated with the causation of dental caries and periodontal disease (Streptococcus mutans), as well as other microorganisms, remained identical. Data supporting this phenomenon is presented in the following tables:

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                                      Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations                                              (MIC) in μg/ml                                                                1.0% sanguinarine                                                                           1.0% sanguinarine                                                 chloride 3.0%                                                                               chloride 0.4%                                      MICROORGANISM  zinc chloride                                                                               stannous fluor-                                    TESTED         in glycerol  ide in glycerol                                    ______________________________________                                         Escherichia coli                                                                               158          160                                               Klebsiella pneumoniae                                                                          158          160                                               Proteus vulgaris                                                                              --           --                                                 Streptococcus mutans                                                                           79           80                                                Streptococcus faecalis                                                                        <20          <20                                                Staphyloccoccus aureus                                                                        <20          <20                                                Pseudomonas aeruginosa                                                                         630         1,280                                              Saccharomyces cerevisiae                                                                      <20          <20                                                Candida albicans                                                                               79          <20                                                ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE III                                                        ______________________________________                                                      Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations                                              (MIC) in μg/ml                                                                1.0% sanguinarine                                                                           1.0% sanguinarine                                                 chloride 3.0%                                                                               chloride 0.4%                                      MICROORGANISMS zinc chloride                                                                               stannous fluor-                                    TESTED         in glycerol  ide in glycerol                                    ______________________________________                                         Bacteroides melaninogeni-                                                                     8            8                                                  cus                                                                            Eikenella corrodens                                                                           32           32                                                 Actinomyces viscosus                                                                          8            8                                                  Actinobacillus 16           16                                                 actinomycetemcomitans                                                          Capnocytophaga gingivalis                                                                     8            8                                                  Capnocytophaga sputigena                                                                      8            8                                                  ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE IV                                                         ______________________________________                                                      Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations                                            (MBC) in μg/ml                                                                1.0% sanguinarine                                                                           1.0% sanguinarine                                                 chloride 3.0%                                                                               chloride 0.4%                                      MICROORGANISMS zinc chloride                                                                               stannous fluor-                                    TESTED         in glycerol  ide in glycerol                                    ______________________________________                                         Escherichia coli                                                                              158          160                                                Klebsiella pneumoniae                                                                         1,261        640                                                Proteus vulgaris                                                                              2,522        640                                                Streptococcus mutans                                                                          158          160                                                Streptococcus faecalis                                                                        315          160                                                Staphylococcus aureus                                                                         158           80                                                Pseudomonas aeruginosa                                                                        2,522        2,560                                              Saccharamyces cervisiae                                                                        20           20                                                Candida albicans                                                                               79          160                                                ______________________________________                                    

The above phenomenon is not what would be expected in light of the in vitro test results. In most cases sanguinarine chloride in vivo was only slightly effective or not at all. This was quite unexpected considering that in vitro all the antimicrobial activity of a sanguinarine chloride-metal salt mixture could be explained by the amount of sanguinarine present in the mixture.

Controlled clinical tests on 24 male beagle dogs showed that after four weeks of treatment the dogs treated with the zinc chloride-sanguinarine chloride-glycerine mixture had the lowest plaque and gingivitis scores, while the dogs treated with sanguinarine chloride alone had the highest. The dogs were treated topically once daily with the respective test formulation.

The results presented in Table V clearly indicate that the sanguinarine chloride-zinc chloride in glycerine treated group of dogs had lower gingivitis scores after four weeks of treatment than did the other groups. Zinc chloride alone was slightly active, but sanguinarine chloride alone showed no activity in vivo at all. This result is unexpected, considering that, in vitro, sanguinarine chloride is quite effective against microorganisms.

                  TABLE V                                                          ______________________________________                                         Oral Clinical Studies - Beagles (dogs)                                                                       After                                            Treatment            0 (start)                                                                               4 weeks                                          ______________________________________                                                            Mean Gingivitis Scores                                      None                 0.475    0.91                                             0.1% Sanguinarine chloride                                                                          0.495    0.942                                            2.7% Zinc chloride   0.44     0.75                                             0.1% Sanguinarine chloride with                                                                     0.418    0.548                                            2.7% zinc chloride in glycerine                                                                   Mean Plaque Scores                                          None                 7.478    12.408                                           0.1% Sanguinarine chloride                                                                          8.885    12.89                                            2.7% Zinc chloride   8.76     10.15                                            0.1% sanguinarine chloride with                                                                     8.578    7.407                                            2.7% zinc chloride in glycerine                                                                   Mean Pocket Depths                                          None                 1.459    1.458                                            0.1% Sanguinarine chloride                                                                          1.415    1.48                                             2.7% Zinc chloride   1.46     1.37                                             0.1% Sanguinarine chloride with                                                                     1.445    1.44                                             2.7% zinc chloride in glycerine                                                ______________________________________                                    

Similar results occured, when the dogs were evaluated for the return of dental plaques (See Table V for plaque scores), sanguinarine chloride alone was not active in vivo. Zinc chloride was slightly preventive but the preparation of sanguinarine chloride-zinc chloride in glycerine not only prevented the return and further proliferation of dental plaque but significantly further reduced it during the four weeks of treatment.

Data also indicate that even the pocket depths were reduced somewhat by the treatment materials containing zinc chloride in glycerine, or zinc chloride-sanguinarine chloride in glycerine.

In a clinical test involving twenty volunteer patients with periodontal disease, it was observed that after treatment with benzophenanthridine alkaloid chloride-zinc chloride in glycerine, there was rapid improvement. Inflammation, infection and pockets were eliminated, abcesses ceased, gingival tone greatly improved, tissues healed, and in some cases normal tissue was restored and teeth mobility was reduced.

The clinical studies above showed that sanguinarine chloride in vivo was only slightly antimicrobial, very slow acting, or had no effect on the course of the infection at all.

Zinc chloride in the concentrations required in vivo to have antimicrobial action caused blanching of tissue and, in some cases, chemical burns and other tissue damage. Further, zinc chloride was found to be slow acting in vivo as an antimicrobial agent.

Glycerine preparations containing sanguinarine chloride or other benzophenanthridine alkaloids and zinc chloride or stannous fluoride or sodium fluoride were fast acting, requiring only one to three applications to clear out infections rapidly. Further, these preparations did not appear to have the undesirable side effects of the zinc chloride in the concentration necessary to achieve antimicrobial effectiveness.

EXAMPLE 5 Human Periodontal Disease

It has been reported that periodontal (gum) disease affects 2 out of 3 middle-aged Americans. Destruction of the tissue and structures that hold teeth fast in their sockets accounts for 75% of tooth loss after the age of 40. Most cases of periodontal disease are the result of neglect and can largely be prevented by a regular program of thorough hygiene. In the most common type of periodontal disease, the three chief culprits are bacteria, calculus (tartar), and food debris.

The invention has been used by dentists in clinical management of over forty cases of various types of human periodontal disease.

In some cases, even a single treatment brought major improvements in the conditions of the diseased gums. Clinical cure resulting from the treatment was quite apparent and included: elimination of inflammation, normal tissue tone restored, pockets were eliminated, infections were cleared up, mobility was reduced, and gingival tone was greatly improved.

The materials and methods used were the following:

1. Undiluted Paste for Packing:

In cases of widespread tissue involvement, undiluted preparation was used in quantity sufficient (q.s.) to "cover" or "pack" the infected or inflamed areas of gingival tissues.

The clinical procedure consisted of two treatments approximately two weeks apart, with the application of not less than 1.0 mm thickness of the basic preparation to the diseased periodontium. In cases where undiluted material was used, it was either applied topically with a spatula or 0.25 ml was pressed through a 22 gauge needle attached to a 1.0 ml pressure syringe. The material was introduced into the gingivae to the attachment (q.s.) to fill the pocket and the medication was left in place for 10-15 minutes.

2. String Technique: Cotton String Saturated with the Drug Preparation.

In cases where individual teeth were to be treated, an ordinary soft cotton string, sterilized before use, or "gingipak" was used (gingipak contains racemic epinephrine hydrochloride 8-100 solution and 1% benzyl aclohol as preservative).

Cotton strings 1-1.5 cm in length were saturated with undiluted material by using a spatula and precut pieces of string which were then impregnated on a dentist's mixing pad. These strings, when properly impregnated with the preparation, weigh approximately 35 mg/cm.

One to three strings were used per tooth depending upon the circumference of the tooth. Up to three strings were sometimes used for a total of approximately 10.5 mg of the preparation. Inpregnated strings were left in place 10-15 minutes.

Dental floss or similar substrate, such as synthetic hollow fiber string, can be impregnated with the basic preparation for use in treating the teeth and gums.

3. Dilution of Paste for Irrigation

In addition to "packing" of the periodontium or employing the "string technique" on individual teeth, irrigation was often used concurrently as part of regimen. Generally, the diseased periodontium was first packed with undiluted preparation or the teeth were individually treated by the string technique described above. These methods of treatment were followed by irrigation with a suspension of the preparation in either water or glycerine. Suspensions were prepared to contain 1 part of full strength material to 1 part of glycerine, or 1 part of water depending on whether a glycerine or water suspension was desired. The final suspension was V/V mixture of 1 part material to 1 part diluent. Irrigation was accomplished by filling a 7.0 ml syringe to contain 420 mg of the suspension. For treatment of individual teeth, a total of 1.0 ml of material in suspension was used to irrigate the buccal, lingual, and interproximal areas about the tooth. Where indicated, all teeth were irrigated with 840 mg of the suspension contained in two syringes.

EXAMPLE 6 Dental Caries

Preparations containing about 0.3% sanguinarine chloride and about 35% zinc chloride were used on seven patients with dental caries. Decay was removed from the teeth with a spoon excavator leaving a layer of carious tissue about 1 mm to 11/2 mm in depth. The antimicrobial preparation was placed over the remaining decay, about 56.1 mg of preparation, with a Hollenbeck carver and uniformly applied over the decayed area with a piece of cotton held in cotton tweezers. Intermediate restorative material (IRM) was used as a temporary restoration to seal the material in the cavity preparation.

After several weeks (6 weeks) specimens for bacterilogical and histological studies, including electron microscopy, were undertaken.

The conclusions of the investigators were that the preparation could be considered a cariostatic agent. Further, the material may enhance sclerotic dentine formation, thus forming a hard protective floor between the carious lesion and the pulp.

The benzophenanthrine chloride-zinc chloride-glycerine composition can be used in conjunction with a fluoride-providing compound. These compounds are characterized by the ability to release fluoride ions in water and by substantial freedom from reaction with other compounds present in the oral preparation. Among these materials are inorganic fluoride salts such as suitable alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and heavy metal salts. Alkali metal and tin fluorides, such as sodium and stannous fluorides, and mixtures thereof, are preferred.

The amount of the fluoride-providing compound is dependent to some extent upon the type of compounds, its solubility, and the type of oral preparation, but it must be a nontoxic amount. Any suitable minimum amount of such compound may be used, but it is preferable to employ sufficient compound to release from 0.005% to 1%, most preferably about 0.1% by weight of fluoride ion. Typically, in the cases of alkali metal fluoride and stannous fluoride, this component is present in an amount up to 3% by weight, based on the weight of the preparation, and preferably in the range of from 0.05% to 1%.

EXAMPLE 13 Antimicrobial Activity

In order to illustrate the antimicrobial effectiveness of the composition according to the present invention, a series of in vitro and in vivo tests were performed. These tests were designed to demonstrate the lowest concentration of sanguinarine chloride that will inactivate microorganisms.

Findings were as follows:

On the average a 22 ug/ml sanguinarine chloride solution will inactivate cultures of the bacteria Bacillus subtilis, a 270 ug/ml solution cultures of Escherichia coli, a 540 ug/ml solution cultures of Klebsiella pneumoniae, a 590 ug/ml solution cultures of Proteus vulgaris, a 70 ug/ml solution cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, a 393 ug/ml solution cultures of Streptococcus faecalis, and a 161 ug/ml solution cultures of Streptococcus mutans (see Table I).

Further on the average a 150 ug/ml and a 20 ug/ml solution also inactivates the cultures of yeasts Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A considerably lower concentration than the inactivation concentration of the drug preparation is useful as a growth inhibitor of the same organisms.

In addition, on the average a concentration of sanguinarine chloride presented in Table VI was sufficient per cubic centimeter of media, to inhibit growth of some fungi known to belong to the group of ringworm producing organisms.

                  TABLE VI                                                         ______________________________________                                                         Mean Inhibiting Dose of                                                        Sanguinarine Chloride in ug/ml                                 Microorganisms  of Media                                                       ______________________________________                                         Microsporum canis                                                                              867                                                            Microsporum nanum                                                                              650                                                            Trichophyton mentagrophytes                                                                    900                                                            Trichophyton schoenleini                                                                       467                                                            Trichophyton terrestre                                                                         467                                                            Trichophyton vanbreuseghemi                                                                    750                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The basic preparations were, on numerous occasions, also tested on a variety of animals and also humans infected with ringworm and athletes foot fungus. It was found that preparations according to the present invention will considerably hasten recovery from ringworm infection and facilitate rapid healing of lesions.

Results of clinical tests run by numerous dentists and dental institutions confirm that regular application of the composition of the instant invention to teeth surfaces will reduce the incidence of dental caries and the use on gums either by packing or irrigations will prevent or rapidly cure periodontal disease or microbial infections of the gums and surrounding tissues.

Application of the compositions of the present inventicn to cold sores immensely hastens the healing process. Cold sores dry up and heal in a few days.

When animals suffering from scours are treated internally with preparations according to the present invention, the recovery rate exceeds that of the antibiotics commonly used for the purposes of treating scours. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for treating dental caries in humans comprising applying to the affected area an effective amount of a composition comprising from about 0.1% to 20% by weight of a non-toxic sanguinarine salt, from about 1% to about 60% by weight of zinc chloride, and from about 0.4% to about 3.0% by weight of a non-toxic fluoride salt, in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, glycerine, propylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide, and C1-C6 alcohols.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the solvent is glycerine.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-toxic fluoride salt is selected from the group consisting of stannous fluoride and sodium fluoride.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the non-toxic fluoride salt is stannous fluoride.
 5. A method of treating gingivitis in humans comprising topically applying to the affected area an effective amount of a composition comprising from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a non-toxic sanguinarine salt, from about 1% to about 60% by weight of zinc chloride, and from about 0.4% to about 3.0% by weight of a non-toxic fluoride salt, in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, glycerine, propylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide, and C1-C6 alcohols.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the solvent is glycerine.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the non-toxic fluoride salt is selected from the group consisting of stannous fluoride and sodium fluoride.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the non-toxic fluoride salt is stanous fluoride.
 9. A method of treating periodontal disease in humans comprising topically applying to the affected area an effective amount of a composition comprising from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a non-toxic sanguinarine salt, from about 1% to about 60% by weight of zinc chloride, and from about 0.4% to about 3.0% by weight of a non-toxic fluoride salt, in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, glycerine, propylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide, and C1-C6 alcohols.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the solvent is glycerine.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the non-toxic fluoride salt is selected from the group consisting of stannous fluoride and sodium fluoride.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the non-toxic fluoride salt is stannous fluoride. 